By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 16th April 2025. If you have been hurt by a bite from a dog belonging to another party, you may be entitled to make a dog bit claim for personal injury compensation. In this guide, we are going to explain how dog bite injury claims work. We’ll also discuss the eligibility requirements to start this type of claim.
Dog bite compensation claims are something our personal injury solicitors have many years of experience in handling. Therefore, if you have strong grounds to make a dog attack claim, one of our solicitors may be able to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to. For more information on how to claim compensation, please read on.
To see if you could make a dog bite compensation claim, please get in touch today for a consultation with free legal advice. You can call us on 0800 073 8804 or contact us online by filling in our form or by using our 24/7 live chat service.
Here’s our quick explainer video on what assaults are and how you can claim compensation:
Select a Section
- How To Begin A Dog Bite Claim
- What is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991?
- Top Tips For Proving Dog Bite Claims
- Time Limit for Claiming Dog Bite Compensation
- Dog Bite Claims Compensation Calculator
- How Long Does It Take To Claim For A Dog Bite?
- How Can Legal Expert’s Specialist Dog Bite Solicitors Help Me?
- Useful links
How To Begin A Dog Bite Claim
All dog bite claims require evidence in order to proceed, which we will discuss further in a later section. You may not be sure what evidence you need or who you can claim compensation from.
Typically, you claim dog bite compensation from the owner of the dog. For example, if a dog bites you in a park, the owner could be at fault for not using a lead or muzzle on the dog.
However, this is not always the case. You may have been bitten by a guard dog or suffered a dog bite in the workplace. If your work involves dogs, your employer has certain responsibilities to protect your health and safety in the workplace. When an employer fails to implement measures to protect you from harm, and this causes you to suffer an injury, you could be eligible to claim against them.
You do not need to worry about figuring out these aspects of your claim for compensation. Our personal injury solicitors have the experience to help you make the right decisions for your dog bite lawsuit. With their understanding of the legal system, they can advise you on who to claim against and what evidence will strengthen your case.
Why not contact one of our advisors today to find out if you can start a claim for dog bite compensation with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors? You can call or contact them online at your convenience.
I Was Bitten By a Banned Breed Of Dog – Can I Claim Compensation?
If a banned breed of dog has bitten you, you may have strong grounds to claim compensation. Not only is the dog owner breaking the law by owning the breed in question, but also they have then been negligent by enabling the dog to cause harm to another person.
We have plenty of experience in handling such cases and we always strive to secure the maximum dog bite compensation. Get in touch today to make a claim.
I got bit by a stray dog; can I claim compensation?
If you were attacked by a stray dog, claiming compensation can be more difficult. There are ways you can go about trying to find the owner. If you have been unable to do so, you may have grounds to claim against the council/local authority or anyone responsible for the area in which you were bit, be it a business park or a local housing estate.
The best thing to do is to call us. That way, we can better understand your dog bite compensation claim and advise you correctly.
What is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991?
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was introduced due to several incidents involving uncontrolled and aggressive dogs. This act involved banning certain dog breeds. It also banned the breeding, exchange, and sale of these dogs.
These dangerous breeds include:
- Pit bull terriers.
- Japanese Tosa.
- Dogo Argentino, which may also be called the Argentinean mastiff.
- Fila Brasileiro, which could also be called the Brazilian mastiff.
Aside from this, it enforced all dog owners to tattoo, microchip, neuter, register, and insure their dogs.
There are several other laws in place regarding keeping and controlling dogs. A dog owner has a legal responsibility to keep their dog under control. They must register their dog, ensure it does not create a public nuisance, and they’re responsible if their dog attacks another person.
Top Tips For Proving Dog Bite Claims
Proving a dog bite claim works just like any other personal injury claim. You will need to show that you were injured by the dog and that the dog was dangerously out of control when the bite occured.
We have given a few examples of the evidence you could collect for a dog bite lawsuit here:
- Photographs: photograph your injuries as well as the dog if you can. If the dog in question is a banned breed in the UK, this will certainly help you in proving liability.
- CCTV footage: video footage of the incident can be used not only to show what happened, but also that a dog was dangerously out of control when the bite occurred.
- Witness testimony: anyone who saw the dog bite you such as other park goers or anyone you were with could provide a witness statement. Make sure you have their details so they can be contacted during the claims process.
- Details of the insurer: a dog bite claim is made against the owner’s pet insurance. Be sure you have this information.
To get support with collecting evidence or to ask further questions about the average compensation for a dog bite, talk to our advisors for a free assessment of your eligibility today.
Time Limit for Claiming Dog Bite Compensation
In accordance with the Limitation Act 1980, there is a three-year time limit for starting a dog bite claim. This usually starts from the date the incident occurred.
Under certain circumstances, the time limit can work differently. For example, the time limit will be halted for those lacking the mental capacity to make their own proceedings. Should they regain this capacity, the time limit will commence from this date. However, a litigation friend could make the claimant their behalf while the claimant is unable to do so.
If a child has been bitten by a dog, then the time limit for starting a claim will be put on hold until their 18th birthday. Alternatively, a litigation friend could begin the claiming process on their behalf prior to this date.
For more advice on your eligibility to start a dog bite claim or whether you could use a dog bite compensation calculator, contact our advisors for free either online or by calling us.
Dog Bite Claim Compensation Calculator
If you suffered injuries caused by a dog bite, our compensation calculator could help value them. However, there are various factors that go into personal injury claims. This section will help you learn how compensation could be awarded. If you would like any help, or a more accurate estimate that considers various damages, please speak to a member of our advisory team.
Due to the fact that every claim is assessed individually knowing the average payout for a dog bite in the UK may not be of any benefit to you. Instead, we have taken the time to explain how this compensation can be calculated.
Compensation for a dog bite can be awarded under two different heads of loss: general and special damages. These compensate for physical and psychological harm, and financial losses, respectively.
Those assigned the task of determining a potential general damages figure can look at your provided medical evidence alongside the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication contains guideline compensation values for various injuries, a relevant selection of which we have used in the table below.
Compensation Table
We’d like to emphasise that the top entry is not a JCG figure and that this information has been provided for guidance purposes only.
| Injury | Severeity | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries and special damages | Severe | Up to £500,000+ |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Severe | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| Severe | £28,250 to £73,050 | |
| Hand Injury | Loss of thumb | £43,350 to £66,920 |
| Severe fractures to fingers | Up to £44,840 | |
| Facial disfigurement | Very severe scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less severe scarring | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Psychiatric Damage Generally | Moderately severe | £23,270 to £66,920 |
| Bodily Scarring | No significant Internal injury | In the region of £10,550 |
Special Damages
As part of your compensation payout, you may also receive payments under special damages for any financial losses stemming from the dog bite. In addition to any immediate cost incurred from your injuries, special damages can also be paid out for future losses.
What this means is payouts made under special damages are often quite a lot higher than those awarded under general damages. We have given a few examples here:
- Loss of earnings.
- Travel costs.
- Out of pocket medical bills.
- Domestic support.
You will need to provide some supporting evidence for these costs, so make sure you hold onto copies of your payslips, travel tickets, invoices for care and any other bills that show what expenses you have incurred.
For a more personalised idea of what your potential dog bite compensation claim could be worth, speak to our advisors using the contact information provided below.
How Long Does It Take To Claim For A Dog Bite?
How long it takes to claim for a dog bite depends on the circumstances surrounding your claim. Factors could include:
- Whether you can settle the claim outside of court
- The court schedule (if your claim goes to court)
- Whether the defending party accepts liability for the dog bite injury
- The amount of evidence you need and how long it takes to acquire it
- The severity of your injuries and their associated costs
- Whether you have fully recovered from your injuries (if you have not recovered, it could be more difficult to assess the future impact of your injuries)
All dog bite claims are assessed individually. Legal professionals may need time to examine your evidence and the nature of your injuries, especially in more complex cases. No two claims are the same, so your experience of a claim could be completely different from that of another claimant.
If you have any concerns about starting a claim for dog bite compensation, please contact our team of experienced advisors. They can explain the process in further detail and discuss the specific nature of your claim. Additionally, they can offer you a free case assessment to evaluate what your potential compensation may cover.
How Can Legal Expert’s Specialist Dog Bite Solicitors Help Me?
We always recommend working with a solicitor when you make any kind of personal injury claim. Even though it’s not a mandatory step, seeking expert legal advice from experienced dog bite solicitors can make a huge difference to your claim.
This is because solicitors go through years of training before they qualify, and this gives them extensive knowledge of the dog bite claims process. They can explain each step of the way, and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing what to expect.
A solicitor can also help you support your claim with evidence, prepare your case for trial if necessary, and negotiate the settlement that you deserve.
Our solicitors can do all of this on a No Win No Fee basis by offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under this kind of agreement, you get all the services of an expert solicitor without:
- Paying for them upfront
- Paying for them as the claim is ongoing
- Paying for them at all if the claim fails
If your dog bite compensation claim succeeds, you’ll pay a legally capped amount of your compensation to your solicitor as their success fee.
Contact Us
Our team of friendly advisors are here to help. When you get in touch, they can offer you a free consultation. This means that they can answer questions you have about the dog bite claims process and can tell you whether or not you may have a valid claim. If you do, then they may help you get in contact with one of our expert dog bite claim solicitors.
To get started:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online
- Use the live chat feature
Useful links
Government website on controlling your dog in public
This link takes you to the UK Government’s guide on controlling your dog in public. It provides useful information on banned dogs, Public Spaces Protection Orders, dog fouling, and reporting a dog.
Government website on dangerous dog law changes
This link is useful, as it takes you to a press release that explains the changes in the law regarding dangerous dogs. In 2013, the law would change to cover dog attacks on private properties. You can find more information here.
This link takes you to the human, animal, and dog bite NHS page. It explains what to do after a bite, getting medical advice/treatment, infection symptoms, common causes and avoiding bites.
If you want to report a stray dog, use this link to do so. You can use the search function to find a postcode to contact the dog’s owner. If you do not know the dog’s owner, you need to contact your local council.
Legislation Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
This link provides you with plenty of information regarding the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. This includes information on the effect of the Act, the index of exempted dogs, comparable legislation elsewhere, and much more.
Other Personal Injury Claims Guides
- Neck Injury Claims And Settlement Calculator
- A Guide On How Compensation Payouts Are Calculated
- Permanent Scar Injury Claims Guide
- Laceration Scarring Compensation Claims
If you would like to speak to an advisor about dog bite claims for compensation, you are welcome to contact the Legal Expert advisors.
